Best of
Brain

2005

Biology and Human Behavior: The Neurological Origins of Individuality


Robert M. Sapolsky - 2005
    Course Lecture Titles1. Biology and BehaviorAn Introduction 2. The Basic Cells of the Nervous System 3. How Two Neurons Communicate 4. Learning and Synaptic Plasticity 5. The Dynamics of Interacting Neurons 6. The Limbic System 7. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) 8. The Regulation of Hormones by the Brain 9. The Regulation of the Brain by Hormones 10. The Evolution of Behavior 11. The Evolution of BehaviorSome Examples 12. Cooperation, Competition, and Neuroeconomics 13. What Do Genes Do? Microevolution of Genes 14. What Do Genes Do? Macroevolution of Genes 15. Behavior Genetics 16. Behavior Genetics and Prenatal Environment 17. An Introduction to Ethology 18. Neuroethology 19. The Neurobiology of Aggression I 20. The Neurobiology of Aggression II 21. Hormones and Aggression 22. Early Experience and Aggression 23. Evolution, Aggression, and Cooperation 24. A Summary

Moments of Mindfulness: Daily Inspiration


Thich Nhat Hanh - 2005
    Basic meditation instructions and messages of peace, love, insight, understanding, and compassion accompany two-color illustrations throughout, with blank pages for personal reflections and inspiration. Moments of Mindfulness is a perfect journal for spiritual exploration.Moments of Mindfulness is intended to be used as a personal notebook or to simply read for everyday inspiration, and to help bring mindful practices and reflection to daily life. With illustrations by Jenifer Kent, beautiful details and design, it makes a wonderful gift.

An Introduction to the Event-Related Potential Technique


Steven J. Luck - 2005
    In " An Introduction to the Event-Related Potential Technique," Steve Luck offers the first comprehensive guide to the practicalities of conducting ERP experiments in cognitive neuroscience and related fields, including affective neuroscience and experimental psychopathology. The book can serve as a guide for the classroom or the laboratory and as a reference for researchers who do not conduct ERP studies themselves but need to understand and evaluate ERP experiments in the literature. It summarizes the accumulated body of ERP theory and practice, providing detailed, practical advice about how to design, conduct, and interpret ERP experiments, and presents the theoretical background needed to understand why an experiment is carried out in a particular way. Luck focuses on the most fundamental techniques, describing them as they are used in many of the world's leading ERP laboratories. These techniques reflect a long history of electrophysiological recordings and provide an excellent foundation for more advanced approaches.The book also provides advice on the key topic of how to design ERP experiments so that they will be useful in answering questions of broad scientific interest. This reflects the increasing proportion of ERP research that focuses on these broader questions rather than the "ERPology" of early studies, which concentrated primarily on ERP components and methods. Topics covered include the neural origins of ERPs, signal averaging, artifact rejection and correction, filtering, measurement and analysis, localization, and the practicalities of setting up the lab.

Conversations on Consciousness: What the Best Minds Think about the Brain, Free Will, and What It Means to Be Human


Susan Blackmore - 2005
    The interviewees, ranging from major philosophers to renowned scientists, talk candidly with Blackmore about some of the key philosophical issues confronting us in a series of conversations that are revealing, insightful, and stimulating. They ruminate on the nature of consciousness (is it something apart from the brain?) and discuss if it is even possible to understand the human mind. Some of these thinkers say no, but most believe that we will pierce the mystery surrounding consciousness, and that neuroscience will provide the key. Blackmore goes beyond the issue of consciousness to ask other intriguing questions: Is there free will? (A question which yields many conflicted replies, with most saying yes and no.) If not, how does this effect the way you live your life; and more broadly, how has your work changed the way you live?Paired with an introduction and extensive glossary that provide helpful background information, these provocative conversations illuminate how some of the greatest minds tackle some of the most difficult questions about human nature.

Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and the New Biology of Mind


Eric R. Kandel - 2005
    Complete with commentaries by experts in the field, Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and the New Biology of Mind reflects the author's evolving view of how biology has revolutionized psychiatry and psychology and how potentially could alter modern psychoanalytic thought.The author's unique perspective on both psychoanalysis and biological research has led to breakthroughs in our thinking about neurobiology, psychiatry, and psychoanalysis -- all driven by the central idea that a fuller understanding of the biological processes of learning and memory can illuminate our understanding of behavior and its disorders. These wonderful essays cover - the mechanisms of psychotherapy and medications, showing that both work at the same level of neural circuits and synapses, and the implications of neurobiological research for psychotherapy;- the ability to detect functional changes in the brain after psychotherapy, which enables us, for the first time, to objectively evaluate the effects of psychotherapy on individual patients;- the need for animal models of mental disorders; for example, learned fear, to show how molecules and cellular mechanisms for learning and memory can be combined in various ways to produce a range of adaptive and maladaptive behaviors;- the unification of behavioral psychology, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and molecular biology into the new science of the mind, charted in two seminal reports on neurobiology and molecular biology given in 1983 and 2000;- the critical role of synapses and synaptic strength in both short- and long-term learning;- the biological and social implications of the mapping of the human genome for medicine in general and for psychiatry and mental health in particular;The author concludes by calling for a revolution in psychiatry, one that can use the power of biology and cognitive psychology to treat the many mentally ill persons who do not benefit from drug therapy.Fascinating reading for psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, social workers, residents in psychiatry, and trainees in psychoanalysis, Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and the New Biology of Mind records with elegant precision the monumental changes taking place in psychiatric thinking. It is an invaluable reference work and a treasured resource for thinking about the future.

Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults


Thomas E. Brown - 2005
    Drawing on recent findings in neuroscience and a rich variety of case studies from his own clinical practive, Dr. Thomas E. Brown describes what ADD syndrome is, how it can be recognized at different ages, and how it can best be treated.This is the first book to address the perplexing question about ADD: how can individuals, some very bright, be chronically unable to “pay attention,” yet be able to focus very well on specific tasks that strongly interest them? Dr. Brown disputes the “willpower” explanation and explains how inherited malfunctions of the brain’s management system prevent some people from being able to deal adequately with challenging tasks of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. His book is an authoritative and practical guide for physicians and psychologists, parents and teachers, and the 7 to 9 percent of persons who suffer from ADD/ADHD.

The Brain: A Beginner's Guide


Ammar al-Chalabi - 2005
    However, as the authors of this accessible guide demonstrate, there are at least some things we do understand about the brain, things which may lead us to think quite differently about the way we view ourselves and workings of our minds. Starting off with a brief tour of the history of neuroscience, from Aristotle's view that the function of the brain was to cool the heart to the ancient practice of drilling a hole in the skull to relieve headaches, the book covers all of the key areas - including the anatomy and development of the brain, the workings of the sensory and nervous systems, the function of sleep and the capacity for language - in a clear and comprehensible manner. The authors also consider the roots - and possible treatments - of some of the most common psychological disorders, and examine the way in which science may help us to find answers to philosophical questions about the nature of consciousness and the identity of the self. to be able to extend life well beyond the standard three score years and ten, this lively and entertaining introduction assumes no previous scientific knowledge and will be suitable for readers of all backgrounds.

Captives of a Concept (Anatomy of an Illusion)


Don Cameron - 2005
    Understanding the illusionary concept that holds millions of Jehovah's Witnesses captive by controlling how they think and act without them realizing it.

Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know


Teri Robert - 2005
    Teri Robert has been there—in fact, she experienced her first Migraine at age six. Now, in this groundbreaking holistic guide to the diagnosis and treatment of headaches and Migraine disease, she brings a patient-empowering message to all headache sufferers: you don't have to live with daily pain. She provides you with all the information you need to know about getting the help you need, including:Understanding side effectsTreatments for long-term reliefRisks and symptomsIdentification of the various types of headachesTraditional and alternative therapiesInformation on finding health care practitioners and supportNumerous case studies and expert advice

How to Develop a Brilliant Memory Week by Week: 52 Proven Ways to Enhance Your Memory Skills


Dominic O'Brien - 2005
    This book is an expert course in memory enhancement, organized in 52 key lessons, complete with self-testing. Dominic O'Brien offers us tried and tested strategies and tips that will expand your mental capacities at a realistic but impressive rate to make your memory bigger, better and sharper, week-by-week.

The Great Brain Book: an Inside Look at the Inside of Your Head


H.P. Newquist - 2005
    High interest with just a touch of yuck.Understanding the brain is one of the biggest challenges facing scientists. We still don't know how the brain creates thoughts! Newquist peels back the layers of the brain to explain what it's made of, how it works, and how to make your brain work for you. From eyeballs to neurons, vivid illustrations show pieces of its complex structure.The historical chapter details how Egyptians scooped out the brains of mummies, and how phrenology developed. Brain surgery and brain abnormalities are explained, as is the function of sleep and dreams. An informal and intriguing look inside your head.

Broken Children, Grown-Up Pain (Revised): Understanding the Effects of Your Wounded Past


Paul Hegstrom - 2005
    Emotional isolation. Self-loathing. Immaturity. Abusive actions.These are just some of the damaging fragments that remain embedded within our personalities, behaviors, and souls when we are broken as children. The memory of the past may seem distant and clouded, but within its scars deep wounds remain that continue to inflict pain upon our adult lives--and often end up spilling into the lives of others.In Broken Children, Grown-Up Pain, Paul Hegstrom, author of Angry Men and the Women Who Love Them, shows us the scars from his broken childhood and shares practical and proven methods for facing and dealing with the pain of the past. By using scientific research, psychological studies, and biblical principles--especially those found in the Jewish model of raising children--he points us to the place of healing where we are finally free to pursue authentic relationships and build healthy emotional intimacy with others.This updated version of Broken Children, Grown-Up Pain is an excellent resource for pastors, teachers, counselors, psychologists, parents, or anyone wounded by an abusive past.

Cognitive Illusions: A Handbook on Fallacies and Biases in Thinking, Judgement and Memory


Rüdiger F. Pohl - 2005
    At the beginning of each chapter, leading researchers in the field introduce the background to phenomena such as illusions of control, overconfidence and hindsight bias. This is followed by an explanation of the experimental context in which these illusions can be investigated and a theoretical discussion drawing conclusions about the wider implications of these fallacy and bias effects. Written with researchers and instructors in mind, this tightly edited, reader-friendly text provides both an overview of research in the area and many lively pedagogic features such as chapter summaries, further reading lists and suggestions for classroom demonstrations.

Sex and Love in Intimate Relationships


Robert W. Firestone - 2005
    Yet it is an aspect of relationships that is complex and sometimes fraught with difficulty. Given the mixed messages about sexuality that exist in our culture, it is hardly surprising that men and women find intimate relationships hard to discuss and negotiate. Furthermore, therapy for sexual dysfunction has tended to emphasize physiological and technical issues over the psychological ones that the authors believe are at the root of many couples' problems. In Sex and Love in Intimate Relationships, Firestone and his coauthors help therapists help their clients. Drawing on their forty years of combined clinical experience and a unique longitudinal study of couples and families, they propose that sexual problems are largely related to defenses acquired through painful childhood experiences. The self-sabotaging effects of this fantasy bond - an illusion of connection to the mother or primary caregiver - give rise to critical internal voices. These voices support negative views of the self and others, interfering with closeness and intimacy. therapy sessions, the authors show how clients can be helped to overcome these challenges and become physically and emotionally closer to their partners. Sex and Love in Intimate Relationships is thought-provoking reading for anyone interested in what sustains a loving and fulfilling sexual relationship.

The Development and Education of the Mind: The Selected Works of Howard Gardner


Howard Gardner - 2005
    Spanning over thirty years, this collection reveals the thinking, the concepts and the empirical research that have made Gardner one of the most respected and cited educational authorities of our time.Trained originally as a psychologist at Harvard University, Howard Gardner begins with personal sketches and tributes to his major teachers and mentors. He then presents the work for which he is best-known - the theory of multiple intelligences - including a summary of the original theory and accounts of how it has been updated over the years. Other seminal papers featured include:education in the arts the nature of understanding powerful ways in which to assess learning broad statements about the educational enterprise how education is likely to evolve in the globalised world of the twenty-first century.

The Design of Experiments in Neuroscience


Mary Harrington - 2005
    Using examples from published studies in neuroscience, the text discusses control of variables and analysis of results, with a focus on the logic of experimental design. Ethical issues associated with neuroscience research are considered and guidelines are described. Statistical concepts are discussed within the context of the research examples. Many exercises are provided to allow students to apply their knowledge and test their understanding. The background in research skills that this book provides will help students succeed in their research endeavors.

Essential Neuroscience


Allan Siegel - 2005
    . .As burgeoning research advances the field of neuroscience, instructors face the formidable challenge of imparting this ever-increasing and heterogenous body of information to students. Essential Neuroscience, Second Edition is the coherent, balanced solution.Rated outstanding with highest 5-star ranking in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. This highly acclaimed second edition covers fundamental neuroscience topics, integrating essential information with clinical and physiological considerations, providing students with multiple opportunities for review and self-testing, and presenting the latest relevant developments in neuroscience.Proven building-block approach preferred by faculty and students alike. Beginning with the building block of neuroscience, the neuron, the text unfolds the story of human brain function. From analysis of a single neuron, the authors enlarge the discussion to neuronal communication; guide us through the essentials of spinal cord and brain anatomy; detail the sensory, motor, and integrative systems; and finally illustrate the most complex functions and dysfunctions of the nervous system. This stepwise, basic-to-complex approach is the synthesis of 30 years of teaching experience and improves student performance on exams.NEW FEATURES:Enhanced topics throughout Integration of material where sequentially and functionally relevant More than 50 revised and 8 all-new illustrations Chapter Summary Tables Expanded Glossary In-depth study of selected topics to accommodate dental studentsINSIDE YOU'LL FIND:Six sections organize chapters into cohesive blocks of information. Learning Objectives launch each chapter by focusing students on key chapter information. Updated, full-color art program abounds with more than 400 illustrations and neuroimaging that reflect appropriate detail and complement the text. Tables and outlines organize chapter material in high-yield format for effective student review. Concise yet comprehensive presentation of material ensures that students learn what they need to know without bogging them down with excess information. Balanced integration of anatomy, biology, physiology, and chemistry gives students a well-rounded understanding of neuroscience. In-depth coverage of topics frequently tested on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)—including structure, function, and deficits of individual cranial nerves; vascular syndromes of the brainstem; and behavioral disorders—gives students an edge in test prep. Latest developments in neuroscience keep students at the front of discovery. Clinical Cases provide the clinical application of chapter concepts. USMLE-style and course review-style questions test retention of key concepts in each chapter and help students prepare for course and board examinations. Comprehensive Glossary defines key terms and concepts bolded throughout the text. Online access via thePoint to the fully searchable text (including images), an image bank for faculty with labels on/off, interactive Q&A, and more.